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Description edit
The story centres round the Balicki family set against the bleak landscape of war-torn Warsaw and the wreck that is post war Germany. The Balicki consist of Joseph Balicki, who was headmaster of a primary school before the war and is married to the Swiss Margrit. His three children are: Ruth... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Jan: Small.ragged and secretive.
- Ruth: Mature, caring, sensible.
- Joseph: The children's father.
- Edek: Protective, caring, cynical.
- Ivan: A soldier who befriends Ruth
- Frau Wolff: Add a description of this character.
- Rudolf
First Sentence edit
This is a story of a Polish family, and what happened to them during the Second World War and immediately afterwards.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 156 of 196 in BBC 'Big Read' Top 200 Novels, 2003. (authoritative list)
Preceded by Secrets, and followed by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
This is book 46 of 45 in 100 Books Every Child Should Read - Part 02: The Middle Years (The Telegraph). (authoritative list)
Preceded by The Phantom Tollbooth, and followed by Cue for Treason (Puffin Books).
This is book 807 of 986 in 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Ian Serraillier (Author)
Awards edit
- BBC's Big Read (April 2003, #156)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
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